Automatic fire-kindler



Nu. 6l0,986. Patented se t i'zo, I898.

a. l. GREEN.

AUTOMATIC FIRE KINDLER.

(Application filed Jan. 25, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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GEORGE IRVING GREEN, OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC FlRE-K lNDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,986, dated September 20, 1898. Application filed January 25,1898. Serial No. 667,886. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE IRVING GREEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petaluma, in the county of Sonoma and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Fire-Kindlers and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention involves apparatus whereby an alarm-clock automaticallycauses the kindling of a fire at a moment determined insetting the alarm.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking from the right in Figs; 1'

and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail View showing the manner of inserting the, matches, and Fig. 5 is a plan view of a certain plate forming a part of the apparatus.

In these figures, A represents the baseplate, provided with a handle B and rigidly connected by posts 0 to an upper and parallel plate D. At the front end of this structure is a cup E, preferably of sheet metal, intended to contain combustible waste and a considerable quantity of oil. The cup is made wedge-shaped, so that its free end may be more readily inserted between the bars that often form the lateral wall of a fire-chamber and may more easily enter the more or less loose mass of kindlings or fuel which is to be ignited. In order that the cup may follow the line of least resistance to such entry or may for other reasons be readily pushed in obliquely with respect to the general direction of the plates A D, it is pivoted to one branch of the front forked end of the latter plate to swing freely in a horizontal plane through a considerable angle. The upper portion only of the rear wall of the cup is cut away, and from the upper margin of the remaining portion of that wall widely-separated parallel fingers E project horizontally rearward nearly in the plane of the plate D to support in an exposed position a portion of the waste which the cup is to contain. That portion of the cup below the plane of these fingers may contain a considerable quantity of free oil, and the waste above that-plane serves as a wick, protecting the free oil from the flame and yet carrying it gradually upward to feed the flame, the result being a strong uniform flame fora time am ply suflicient to ignite ordinary oombustibles above the fingers.

It is evident that a lighted match held head down in a vertical position may be passed sidewise between the fingers E, and that its flame will then rise around the fingers and I necessarily light any readily combustible matter that may rest upon them, and that the combustion will extend to the waste in the body of the cup, from which this waste upon the fingers overflows. To automatically light one or more matches and so move them between the fingers at the proper time is the object of otherdevices to be described.

Upon the upper plate D rests a broad flat bar F, arranged to slide toward and away from the cup E (in guides G G) and provided with a stud G which projects upward to be grasped by the hand in retracting the'bar and also downward (through a slot D in the plate D) to be engaged by one end of a coiled spring H. The spring is attached at the other end to a hook D upon the plate D, and it tends at all times to throw the bar toward the cup E. At its front end the bar F is provided with a series of vertical grooves F, three being shown. A bail F is pivoted in the sides of the bar near this end, and the parts are so formed that if the bail be swung upward to make a small angle with the bar, if matches be so placed in the grooves, respectively, that their heads rest,-when the bar is retracted, upon a broad bar R, and if the bail be then forced down into the plane of the bar F each match will be firmly clamped in its groove. The bar R is centrally pivoted to the pivots G, its forward roughened portion, upon which the match-heads rest, bends upward in front of the matches, but does not extend forward to the point reached by the matches when the bar F moves toward the cup E, and its rear end serves asa counterweight, resisting the descent of the roughened end.

The bar F is transversely notched at J, near its rear end, to receive the lower end of a detent-lever K, centrally pivoted to a loop L, fixed to the plate D. To the upper end of this lever is hinged an arm M, whose free end is provided with a slot N to slip over a pin 0, eccentrically fixed to the alarm-shaft of the clock P, protected from the heat by a screenplate Q, pivoted at Q to the plate A.

Now the cup E being filled with waste and oil and some portion of the waste being spread out from the cup upon the fingers E, the bar F being retracted and engaged by the detentbar, and the matches being properly inserted, the cup is placed below some portion of the fuel to be ignited, and the bar M is properly engaged with the clock, as shown in Fig. 3. The normal rotation of the alarm-shaft pushes the bar in the direction of the arrow and in due time releases the bar F. The spring H then suddenly shoots the bar F forward, and the matches depress the forward end of the bar R, ignite in passing over its roughened surface, and come to rest between the fingers E, when the flame strikes the combustible waste immediately above.

From the construction it is plain that each match is used under conditions as favorable as if one match only were used. If then one match in a hundred, for example, were imperfect, the chance that three imperfect matches would be taken for use at the same time is so small that certainty of successful lighting is practically absolute. The three may be held between the thumb and finger and by the aid of the grooves may be properly placed almost as readily as a. single one, and all three are clamped instantly.

As shown, the apparatus is inexpensive, being made of sheet metal and wire, and the posts C, guides G, and hook D being downwardly and upwardly bent portions of the plate D.

hat I claim is 1. In a fire-kindler, a cup having the upper portion only of one side cut away and pro vided with parallel fingers projecting from the remaining portion of that side, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with devices for holding and automatically advancing and igniting matches, of a cup pivotally mounted at the end of the path of the matches, having the upper part of only the side next said end cut away, and having its free end wedge-shaped.

The combination with devices for holding a series of spaced matches vertical, of means for moving the matches forward while so held, means for igniting them in transit, and a series of combustible 4 supporting fingers in position to receive between them the middle portions of the matches so advanced.

4. The combination with automatic devices for lighting matches and advancing them to a certain point, of a combustible-containing cup pivoted at one end in position to have its contents ignited by the matches so advanced and having its free end pointed, substantially as set forth.

5. In a fire-kindler, the combination with a broad reciprocating bar having a series of spaced vertical match-receiving grooves in one end face, of a bail pivoted to the bar to swing over said face and simultaneously clamp a match in each groove.

6. The combination with the parallel plates rigidly connected by posts, of a match-carrying bar sliding upon the upper plate, a spring for advancing the bar, a detent for holding the bar retracted, automatic devices for actuating the detent, a centrally-pivoted counterweighted bar between the plates and having a rough end bent across the path of the matches carried by said bar, and a combustible carrying cup mounted in position to have its contents ignited by the matches carried by the bar.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE IRVING GREEN.

Vitnesses:

D. J. GREEN, WILLIAM LOFTUS. 

